According to relevant records, Jitang was originally called Ji Gonglong. As early as the Song Dynasty, people with the surnames Cen, Tang, Huang and Mo lived here. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the descendants of Zhou Kangyang, the tenth grandson of Zhou Dunyi, People moved to Xiatang (now Changgeng West Street, Jitang). In the 15th year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Zhou Kangyang's descendants moved to Jigonglong again. After that, people with surnames such as Cen, Tang, Huang, and Mo who originally lived in Jigonglong After moving away, the Zhou family became a prominent local family and became the clan holy place for Zhou Kangyang's descendants. At that time, the Zhou clan thought that the place name "Jigonglong" was inelegant. They also thought that "Chicken" and "Ji" have the same pronunciation, and the Zhou family originated from the surname Ji, so they named Jigonglong "Jitang", which is still in use today. Therefore, as a descendant of the Zhou family, when I came to Jitang from afar, I not only did not feel strange, but also felt a little familiar, because all the people living here are my clan members.
When you step into Ji Tang Street, you can feel the prosperity derived from the blend of local ancient culture and new culture. Many magnificent ancient buildings are located among the high-rise buildings. There are many ancient buildings in Jitang. The ones I have seen with my own eyes include Kangyang Zhougong Temple, Runcai Zhougong Temple, Sanrun Zhougong Temple, Jueshen Zhougong Temple, Jinghong Family School, Zhaoren Bookstore, and Sanlin Bookstore. , Wancong Study Room, Yunwei Study Room, Weile Society, Changgeng Tower, Leshan Square, Tongtian Society Ji Altar, Longtou Temple and other historic sites. These are the best objects for the Zhou clan in Jitang to respect their ancestors, worship gods, worship literature, and educate talents. evidence. The oldest and most magnificent ancestral temple in the village is the Kangyang Zhougong Temple. It was built in the twelfth year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty and is named "Yiyan Hall". It has a history of more than 200 years. There are two flagpole stones standing in front of Kangyang Zhougong Temple, which are witnesses of the ancient Zhou clan's achievements. One of the stones is engraved with the words "The first Gongyuan Zhou Rui of Daoguang Xinyouke was born", while the other stone is weathered due to age. Blurred and indistinguishable. The Jitang Zhou family attaches great importance to education, and almost every fangong ancestral hall has a bookstore. Under the flourishing culture of advocating literature, the Jitang Zhou family has also produced talents in large numbers. Since the Qing Dynasty, it has given birth to Dr. Zhaowu Zhou Xianrong and Governor Tuanlian. Zhou Debo, Juren Zhou Detao, Dusi Zhou Dingzhong, Qianzong Samurai Zhou Dingchang and so on.
On the left side of Kangyang Zhougong Temple is the Longtou Temple, which is the place where the villagers of Jitang worship their gods. Since the Longtou Temple was closed when I arrived, I don’t know what the sacred place is enshrined in. But according to the villagers of Jitang every year Judging from the custom of celebrating Guanyin’s birthday on the 19th day of the second lunar month, this temple should be dedicated to Guanyin. The Longtou Temple occupies a small area, much smaller than the Kangyang Zhougong Temple, but its location is higher than the Kangyang Zhougong Temple, perhaps because the locals believe that the status of gods is higher than that of their ancestors. In fact, in the Pearl River Delta region, almost every ancient village has a village temple like the Longtou Temple in Jitang Village. Its area is small and much inferior to similar ancestral temples, but its role in maintaining the unity of the villagers is great. It should not be underestimated, because this is the spiritual sustenance place of the villagers and the religious beliefs passed down beyond the clan concept. During the annual temple fair, descendants of each surname and ancestral hall gather in the village temple to maintain and communicate with each other through a series of folk activities. Emotions and satisfying a certain degree of spiritual needs are functions that ancestral halls cannot play. According to the "Stone Plaque of Longtou Temple", the Longtou Temple was built in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty by Jigonglong sages of Zhou, Cen, Tang, Huang and Mo. It was rebuilt in the Dingyou year of the Qing Dynasty. The later temple was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The plaque was cut off and used to build a dam. So far, only the half with the word "dragon" engraved on it has been found, and the other half with the word "head temple" has not been recovered.
Behind the Kangyang Zhougong Temple is a mountain peak, which is now opened as Ji Tang Park. I took the opportunity to go up and absorb the graceful atmosphere. Although Ji Tang Park is not large, there are many public facilities on the mountain, such as the fitness square, lion dance square, wind and rain corridor, Youxiang Pavilion, Range Rover Pavilion, etc., for tourists to have entertainment, fitness, rest, and sightseeing. The weather was not good, but there were many tourists passing through, which was really pleasant. When I was halfway up the mountain, I saw a tomb on the side of the road of Zhou Gong, the ancestor of the Zhou family, and his wife Huang. I couldn't help but stand in awe and bowed three times to the ancestors of the Zhou family who were buried here to express my infinite respect. Affection.
After staying on the mountain of Jitang Park for about an hour, I went down the mountain and returned to the center of Jitang Village to appreciate the ancient and glorious historical customs. Finally, I reluctantly said goodbye and returned. .